John C. Moon's Letter to the Alumni
The Fifes and Drums of Colonial Williamsburg were forged into the body we are today by the work of this man - ably supported by a staff including William E. White and Herbert Watson.
The following is a letter that was written to the Alumni of the Fifes and Drums of Colonial Williamsburg on December 4, 2008 in the wake of the Corps 50th anniversary the previous summer.
John C. Moon - Musick Master / Drum Major, Retired - Colonial Williamsburg Fifes and Drums
December 4, 2008
Dear Fellow Alumni:
The 50th Anniversary of the Fifes and Drums of Colonial Williamsburg has come and gone and I feel the need to put something down on paper to express my sense of the experience. It was a reunion of opposites in many ways and yet a singleness of purpose in other ways. Although we all waited, some of us impatiently,, for the event, it seemed suddenly to be upon us, with things left undone that we should have done. Exhortations by the splendid Alumni Committee should have prepared us all, but many expressed their surprise at the rate at which it arrived, this being hte first example of the opposites that presented itself during our nostalgic weekend.
This gathering of members from all over the country and abroad was a very private affair for each of us who have served, played, and mustered in the Corps, there being a very strong bond between us of having “survived” the rigors of membership. Yet, rightfully, parents, wives, and children attended and joined in…and belonged. There is a jealously guarded mystique that exists in Fife and Drum, either nurtured or natural, yet the inclusion of families (not encouraged during our service) was the opposite of our past experiences. The meeting of old friends, adversaries, colleagues, and playing partners was stimulating, private to many and satisfying to all, yet the end of result of our rehearsing and performing together on the Friday was the very public presentation of 50 years of music to the fortunate guests who thronged Market Square and Duke of Gloucester Street, … a private communion for a public service. The fact that it rained for our performance on the 4th merely brought us closer together as we could not have been any wetter and the drums gradually lost their snap and drive but the players improved with every tune played.
Then there was an age factor. It should have been of some import, but it never intruded upon the festivities or the performance. I believe, at 78, that I may have been one of the oldest alumni, but cameraderie with the youngest members of the Junior Corps was granted and enjoyed and shared with enthusiasm. CW Fife & Drum lore insists that each member believes that his or her particular “Old Corps” was, without a doubt, the best ever, no matter the Director, the years of service or the repertoire. This remains self-evident and fresh as the Saturday Grand March testified. Marching a Corps of some 260 players strong together from the Capitol to Market Square would be cumbersome at best and disastrous without the use of sheep dogs. As our traditions required, each “Old Corps” naturally grouped together, forming five manageable units, without prompting or discussion and each systematically lined up to march down the Duke, properly aligned, fifes parallel to the ground, drums properly angled, verbal silence maintained, and in formation of seniority that produced no discussion.
The presentations of music of each Corps’ time period on Market Square was equally achieved without fuss of feathers flying, exactly as each Corps had performed during their lifetime as the Foundation’s icon. All done with less than two hours of rehearsal to play, discuss tuning, and dynamics and the repertoire to be played. Market Square may have never witnessed a better program, each Corps complementing the other, coming to a climax with the Senior Corps presenting their “Basel Set” for the enjoyment of all. Dangerously, I speak for all the “Old Corps” by saying that the thrill of marching down Duke of Gloucester Street once again was completely fulfilling. As was the dampened playing before the fireworks, and the relaxation of enjoying each others company at the Banquet. A wonderful weekend of opposites, friendship, and esprit-de-corps that surely carried all of us back to the days of our “Old Corps” successes. Meanwhile, the Senior and Junior Corps continue to complete this long eventful anniversary year with their usual style and success.
It would be boorish to mention names, as I might inadvertently miss an old friend or colleague. Suffice to say that many of those old friends were a delight to see again. However, kudos to the Staff members, their bond wiith the Alumni Committee for their hard work and sure-footed arrangements, and to the Senior Corps for their performances at the Banquet. Reminiscences, legends, and probably some lies were rife, and it was wonderful to see so many old friends and their families, in the Main Room and at the Picnic, and to recapture the sense of “belonging” that will always be ours.
Mention should be made of the growing “Tricorn Fund” that seeks to strengthen the ties between us all, by continuing their quest to raise funds and offer scholarships to certain deserving graduates. Whenever you, as an alumnus or alumna, think back to your own time in your own “Best Corps” you should keep in mind all of the training, mentoring, setting of examples, and leadership habits that came to you without monetary cost were pricelss, and are probably used today in your everyday work and life. The gift of discipline, both as an individual and as a Corps member, has undoubtedly placed you above your colleagues who were unfortunate not to have received the Corps’ training. Perhaps now would be a good time for you to “give back” to the Corps and Staff and consider that the Tricorn Fund is a perfect way to show your gratitude and appreciation by providing financial and moral support in these difficult times, and also by offering whatever help and assistance might be needed by Tim, Lance, Amy, and Stewart.
2008 has brought with it a heftier performance schedule that affects all members and that, in turn, has produced a stronger continuing need for maintenance of standards, hence this plea for help, for consideration, and for remembering who we were and are. Which allows me to segue into a Coda. Remember that some of you out there will, one day, be the Staff chosen to carry on this tradition that we cherish. Support given now will be priceless when that time comes and your sense of belonging will be enhanced, as we pass on this “Olympic Torch” of excellence. You already know this within yourselves because of our 50th Anniversary experience. The gathering of old friens was wonderful but the playing of our music was the overarching tie that binds us together. It always will.
With respect,
John C. Moon, Alumnus.
132 Quaker Meeting Road - Williamsburg, Virginia - 23185
Seven years later, ahead of the 2015 Drummer’s Call, Mr. Moon recorded a video address to us as Tricorn Fund merged with the Colonial Williamsburg Fifes and Drums Alumni Association in a “doing business as” (dba) relationship. This made our Alumni Association an official non-profit organization qualifying donations as tax-deductible.
The result was a very large turn-out that year. I hope we field as large a Corps this Friday, May 16 when we begin the twentieth Drummers Call weekend. Onward!